Bruce McAvaney: Difference between revisions
→References: Category:Tennis commentators |
m →References: all Mcs and Macs are sorted as Mac |
||
| Line 116: | Line 116: | ||
| PLACE OF DEATH = |
| PLACE OF DEATH = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
{{DEFAULTSORT: |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macavaney, Bruce}} |
||
[[Category:1953 births]] |
[[Category:1953 births]] |
||
[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
||
Revision as of 02:32, 3 February 2012
Bruce William McAvaney OAM (born 22 June 1953 in Ferryden Park, South Australia) is an Australian sports broadcaster with the Seven Network, well known for his commentary of Australian rules football matches as well as covering every Summer Olympic Games from Moscow 1980 until Beijing 2008.
Early years
The son of an Adelaide accountant, McAvaney developed an early interest in sport and race calling.[1] After attending Woodville High School[1] (and failing Year 12)[2] he spent five years as a Telecom clerk.[3] Then in 1976 during a day off work, McAvaney flew to Kilmore, Victoria to bet on some races. There, he met Kevin Hillier, an Adelaide race caller, who suggested McAvaney help him out back in Adelaide.[3] It was therefore through a chance meeting that McAvaney launched his career in the sports media, joining Adelaide radio station 5DN, calling horse races and later hosting a sports show.[1][3]
Television career
McAvaney made the jump to television in 1978,[1] when he joined Adelaide station ADS-7 to read sport news and produce the weekly Racetrack program. His career received a boost when colleague Sandy Roberts covered the 1980 Moscow Olympics for Seven,[4] and Bruce was chosen to host the Adelaide end of the telecast for the station.[5]
In 1983 he moved to Melbourne and joined Ten Melbourne to read sport news.[1] The following year he was the secondary host and commentated track and field events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics for the Ten Network.[5]
Between 1985 and 1988, McAvaney also called the Melbourne Cup and hosted various major sporting telecasts for Ten, including the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games,[1] the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome[1] and the 1988 Grand Prix athletics in Berlin. McAvaney went on to co-host Ten's telecast of the 1988 Seoul Olympics,[5] a role which won him significant acclaim.[1]
In 1989, McAvaney negotiated a two-year premature end to his contract with Ten, and returned to the Seven Network on the condition that he could cover the 1992 Olympics.[1]
Since his return to Seven, McAvaney has hosted and called a broad range of the network's sports coverage, including the Melbourne Cup, World Athletics Championships, Motor Racing, the Australian Open Tennis, Australian Masters Golf and all Summer Olympic Games from Barcelona 1992 to Beijing 2008. His extensive history covering Olympic Games has led to the nickname "Mr Olympics".[6]
Awards
He was awarded an OAM in June 2002 for service to sports broadcasting, and to the community through charitable and sporting organisations.[7]
Personal life
McAvaney's first marriage, to Merry,[2] lasted from 1983 to 1991.[1] He met his second wife Anne Johnson, a television journalist and producer, in 1993 while making the show Seasons.[1] With her, he had two children, Sam and Alexandra.[7] He moved his family from Melbourne back to his home town of Adelaide in 1999.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Aisbett, Norman (1998-02-07). "Run, Bruce, Run". The West Australian. p. 1.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b Hunt, Nigel (2006-05-21). "Bruce McAvaney: Hedging his bets". Sunday Mail. News Limited. p. 46.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b c Le Grand, Chip (2000-08-17). "Patriot Games". The Australian.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ McAvaney, Bruce (1993-09-19). "Calling the games". Sun Herald. p. 27.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b c Maguire, Tory (2008-08-11). "Spruce Bruce brings the Olympics to life". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. p. 24.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Browne, Rachel (1999-08-01). "Bruce's Babes". Sun-Herald. p. 9.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b
Jameson, Neil (2008-07-26). "The call guy". Newcastle Herald. p. 12.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Vickery, Colin (2008-08-06). "The ultimate in 'special'". Herald Sun. News Limited. p. 8.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help)